Marek Janowski is recognized throughout the world for his interpretations of the works of Wagner, R. Strauss, Bruckner, Brahms, Hindemith, and the Second Viennese School. He begins his post as Chief Conductor of the Dresden Philharmonic with the 2019-20 season; he previously served in this position from 2001 to 2003. From 2002 to 2016 he was artistic director of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (RSB), with whom he recorded a live Wagner opera cycle in Berlin's Philharmonie released on Pentatone in 2016.

In the 2018-19 season Mr. Janowski conducts the Dresden Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Oslo Philharmonic, and the NHK Symphony Orchestra. In both 2016 and 2017 he conducted Wagner's Ring Cycle at Bayreuth. Mr. Janowski has been a regular visitor to North America since his US debut in 1983 with San Francisco Opera. In the three decades since, he has forged lasting relationships with many top orchestras including those of Boston, Pittsburgh, and Minnesota. He made his San Francisco Symphony debut in 1990. Other US orchestras and opera companies he has conducted include the Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.  

Born in Warsaw and educated in Germany, Mr. Janowski's artistic path led him from assistant positions in Aachen, Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Hamburg to his appointment as general music director in Freiburg im Breisgau (1973 to 1975) and Dortmund (1975 to 1979). In 1984 he was named music director of Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, which he led for fifteen seasons. During his tenure in Paris, he also served as chief conductor of the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne (1986 to 1990) and as principal guest conductor of the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (1997 to 1999). From 2000 to 2005 he was music director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo.

Mr. Janowski's discography over the past thirty years is represented on several labels and includes complete symphonic cycles and operas, many of which have been awarded international prizes. His recording of Wagner's complete Ring Cycle with the Staatskapelle Dresden, remains one of the most distinguished offerings of its kind. His recent Bruckner symphony cycle with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, recorded for Pentatone, was also acclaimed.

(May 2019)

Gifted with stunning virtuosity, serene lyricism, and an unfaltering musicality, James Ehnes is a favorite guest at the world’s most celebrated concert halls. Recent orchestral highlights include the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony (with whom he made his debut in 2003), London Symphony, NHK Symphony, and Munich Philharmonic. Mr. Ehnes continues as artist in residence with the National Arts Centre of Canada in the 2022–23 season.

Alongside his concerto work, Mr. Ehnes maintains a busy recital schedule, performing regularly at the Wigmore Hall; Carnegie Hall; Symphony Center Chicago; Amsterdam Concertgebouw; and the Ravinia, Montreux, Verbier, and Dresden festivals. He leads the Ehnes Quartet and serves as the artistic director of the Seattle Chamber Music Society.

Mr. Ehnes has won many awards for his extensive discography, including two Grammy awards, three Gramophone awards, and 11 Juno awards. His state-of-the-art home recordings of works by Bach and Ysaÿe, released as six episodes over two months, were acclaimed worldwide, and Mr. Ehnes was described by Le Devoir as being “at the absolute forefront of the streaming evolution.”

Mr. Ehnes began violin studies at age five and made his orchestral debut at 13. He continued his training at the Meadowmount School of Music and the Juilliard School, winning the Peter Mennin Prize for outstanding achievement and lead- ership in music. He is a Member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Manitoba; a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada; and an honorary fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, where he is a visiting professor. He plays the 1715 “Marsick” Stradivarius violin.